Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Savannah, GA and Rio de Janeiro

For one person, living is cheaper in Rio de Janeiro: $1,289 a month against $2,754 in Savannah, GA, rent and utilities included – about $17,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Savannah, GA
🇺🇸 United States
$2,754
/mo nomad
Rio de Janeiro
🇧🇷 Brazil
$1,289
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Savannah, GA and in Rio de Janeiro

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Savannah, GA and in Rio de Janeiro actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,754 in Savannah, GA versus $1,289 in Rio de Janeiro.

  • Savannah, GA $2,754
  • Rio de Janeiro $1,289

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,920 in Savannah, GA versus $1,868 in Rio de Janeiro.

  • Savannah, GA $3,920
  • Rio de Janeiro $1,868

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,087 in Savannah, GA versus $2,448 in Rio de Janeiro.

  • Savannah, GA $5,087
  • Rio de Janeiro $2,448

Living in Savannah, GA is roughly 114% more expensive than in Rio de Janeiro, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Savannah, GA is 104% above, Rio de Janeiro is 5% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Savannah, GA
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.28 $20.28
$10.06 R$51.0
101.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$60.9 $60.9
$40.44 R$205
50.57%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.86 $11.86
$8.55 R$43.35
38.71%
Cappuccino
$5.31 $5.31
$2.38 R$12.04
123.11%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71 $2.71
$1.61 R$8.18
68.32%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.19 $2.19
$1.03 R$5.22
112.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.92 $5.92
$2.47 R$12.54
139.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.52 $6.52
$3.70 R$18.77
76.22%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Savannah, GA
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.79 $0.79
$1.19 R$6.05
-33.61%
White Bread (500g)
$2.54 $2.54
$2.05 R$10.38
23.90%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.95 $3.95
$1.28 R$6.49
208.59%
Eggs
$3.93 $3.93
$2.29 R$11.60
71.62%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.37 $10.37
$10.76 R$54.5
-3.62%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.26 $8.26
$4.41 R$22.36
87.30%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.08 $16.08
$9.84 R$49.86
63.41%
Apples (1kg)
$5.28 $5.28
$2.81 R$14.25
87.90%
Banana (1kg)
$1.63 $1.63
$1.78 R$9.03
-8.43%
Oranges (1kg)
$6.52 $6.52
$1.60 R$8.13
307.50%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.96 $5.96
$1.80 R$9.11
231.11%
Potato (1kg)
$4.20 $4.20
$1.22 R$6.17
244.26%
Onion (1kg)
$3.20 $3.20
$1.04 R$5.26
207.69%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.93 $1.93
$0.77 R$3.92
150.65%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.74 $1.74
$0.67 R$3.38
159.70%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.34 $8.34
$3.01 R$15.27
177.08%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.99 $12.99
$8.08 R$40.94
60.77%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.89 $1.89
$1.19 R$6.03
58.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.65 $2.65
$2.51 R$12.73
5.58%
🚌 Getting Around
Savannah, GA
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.52 $1.52
$0.99 R$5.00
53.54%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$46.74 $46.74
$50.1 R$254
-6.73%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.01 $2.01
$1.22 R$6.20
64.75%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.58 $1.58
$0.92 R$4.66
71.74%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$17.71 $17.71
$8.97 R$45.45
97.44%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.99 $0.99
$1.30 R$6.57
-23.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.3K $36.3K
$23.9K R$121.0K
52.08%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.9K $24.9K
$32.9K R$166.6K
-24.21%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Savannah, GA
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$225 $225
$133 R$676
68.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$60.4 $60.4
$10.82 R$54.8
457.76%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$63.9 $63.9
$22.90 R$116
179.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Savannah, GA
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$63.3 $63.3
$30.79 R$156
105.59%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$34.88 $34.88
$31.85 R$161
9.51%
Cinema Ticket
$14.89 $14.89
$8.05 R$40.83
84.97%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Savannah, GA
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$929 $929
$598 R$3,029
55.41%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$18.6K $18.6K
$13.4K R$68.0K
38.77%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Savannah, GA
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.7 $51.7
$42.04 R$213
23.07%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.39 $40.39
$49.68 R$252
-18.70%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$81.5 $81.5
$74.5 R$378
9.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113 $113
$68.7 R$348
64.36%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Savannah, GA
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,113 $2,113
$903 R$4,578
133.99%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,430 $1,430
$529 R$2,684
170.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,802 $3,802
$1,326 R$6,724
186.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,236 $2,236
$756 R$3,831
195.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,309 $2,309
$4,010 R$20.3K
-42.43%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,331 $2,331
$1,560 R$7,910
49.42%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Savannah, GA
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,467 $3,467
$640 R$3,242
442.11%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.56
11.93
-45.01%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Savannah, GA: October 11, 2026

Last update for Rio de Janeiro: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Savannah, GA
$1.4K
Rio de Janeiro
$529 63% $901
Groceries & Markets
Savannah, GA
$366
Rio de Janeiro
$215 41.3% $151
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Savannah, GA
$349
Rio de Janeiro
$167 52.1% $182
Eating Out
Savannah, GA
$324
Rio de Janeiro
$165 49% $159
Clothing & Footwear
Savannah, GA
$129
Rio de Janeiro
$106 18% $23
Sport & Entertainment
Savannah, GA
$93
Rio de Janeiro
$47 49.6% $46
Getting Around
Savannah, GA
$63
Rio de Janeiro
$60 4.5% $2.8

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,113 in Savannah, GA and $903 in Rio de Janeiro. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Savannah, GA pays 442% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $61.0 in Savannah, GA vs $40.00 in Rio de Janeiro for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $366 vs $215 per month, with Rio de Janeiro cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Savannah, GA
🇧🇷 Rio de Janeiro
🕒 Local time
13:45 1:45 PM
14:45 2:45 PM
1 h ahead of Savannah, GA
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
146,444
6,211,223
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

BRL, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Brazilian Real exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 5.07 BRL (1 BRL = 0.197 USD). 1 EUR = 5.7 BRL (1 BRL = 0.175 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Savannah, GA Rio de Janeiro 7,320 km ≈ 10 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Savannah, GA
  • Rio de Janeiro

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Savannah, GA vs Rio de Janeiro: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Savannah, GA and in Rio de Janeiro?
Savannah, GA and Rio de Janeiro differ by about 114% in total monthly costs ($2,754 vs $1,289 including rent). Rio de Janeiro is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Savannah, GA or Rio de Janeiro?
Average pay runs 442% higher in Savannah, GA, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Savannah, GA and in Rio de Janeiro?
Rent for a central apartment: $2,113 in Savannah, GA versus $903 in Rio de Janeiro. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Rio de Janeiro – a meal for two runs $40.00 versus $61.0 in Savannah, GA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Savannah, GA or Rio de Janeiro?
All in, you'll spend $2,754 per month in Savannah, GA versus $1,289 in Rio de Janeiro – a 114% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,289 in Rio de Janeiro versus $2,754 in Savannah, GA, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Rio de Janeiro but tight or insufficient in Savannah, GA. The gap between the two cities makes Rio de Janeiro the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Savannah, GA and Rio de Janeiro?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Where should expats move: Savannah, GA or Rio de Janeiro?
Expats usually find Rio de Janeiro gentler on the wallet – expenses run 114% less than in Savannah, GA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Savannah, GA vs other spots: cost of living compared

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